GOOD Magazine

I just became a subscriber to GOOD Magazine. It describes itself as a magazine for ‘people who give a damn’. For starters, the magazine sponsors roughly a dozen non-profit organizations; the full $20 subscription fee is donated to one of these organizations-subscriber’s choice. Secondly, the magazine is chock full of articles of meaningful, uplifting topics. I’ve received two issues and am anxious for the next issue to arrive. I read every issue cover to cover. I’m at a loss to describe how just how great it is.

I loan out my issue to several people. If you’re interested in checking it out before subscribing, just let me know. I’m happy to share my copy with you.

Observing the Sabbath

I’m listening to The Lord is my Shepherd- Wisdom from Psalm 23 by Rabbi Harold Kushner. I’ve listened to his book one other time and love it. His resonant, wise, New England voice makes the words come alive. I love learning more about Jewish traditions, perspective and beliefs, but his book is written for Jew and Christian alike.

In one chapter, he discusses the idea of observing the Sabbath as a gift from God rather than a required list of do’s and don’ts.  He says that observing the Sabbath–reading, spending time with family, resting–is designed to restore our souls. In this busy, frenetic world in which we live, who doesn’t need a little soul-restoration?

How did I observe the Sabbath today?

• Attended church
• took a 2 1/2 hour nap with Cadence
• made Spinach Pie for tomorrow’s lunch club
• talked with my Mom on the phone

The night is young, so I’ll fit in some more reading, clean the kitchen and playing with Cadence.

There is much more wisdom to be found in the pages (or tracks) of Kushner’s book. I highly recommend it.

This has been quite a week

I’m starting to get tired so my most effective way of expressing myself is in lists. Here’s a bulleted list of activities and events that fall under the “been quite a week” category:

• started telecommuting two days a week and love it
• discovered water in the basement; sump pump broke; poured water mostly in utility room, but some escaped into the finished part
• friends’ baby was born safely and in good health
• mahoney trio has a cold we keep sharing with each other
• had periodontal work done; in great pain; my failing mother brain makes me think this mouth pain is worse than post-childbirth pain. Bret reminds me childbirth was worse.
• learned that dear family friend was diagnosed with lung cancer
• grateful for CJ sleeping well all week when mama is sleeping terribly
• decided to work harder at not getting so upset about things I can’t control

I’m glad the weekend is here. I’m ready for chilling with my daughter, encouraging my husband as he remodels the bathroom, and being relieved when my talk at church is written and given.

2008 Goals

I am not a New Year’s Resolution type of gal, but I do like a fresh start and work well off of a list. So here are the goals (attainable) for this year:

1. Bake Bread from scratch
2. Sell an article for publication
3. Submit an essay to Christian Science Monitor and read it in print
4. Have one organizing appointment per month, in person, over the phone, or by webinar workshop
5. Bake sugar cookies like my sister

I will keep you posted as I cross these off my list.

Cadence at 9 months

Cadence turned 9 months old yesterday. I am stunned by her beauty, her personality and what a big girl she has become. I am mesmerized just looking at her and gobsmacked by the fact that she is mine.

These are the things she’s doing right now:

1. blowing voluminous amounts of bubbles

2. pulling up on everything

3. saying dadadadadaddada

4. reaching out for her mama

5. laughing at her toy when she makes it do something

6. operating the buttons on her playskool guitar

7. scrunching up her nose and laughing

8. sleeping very well through the night this week

9. cutting tooth number 2

10. crawling

11. clicking her tongue

12. clapping her hands

These are the major things; I’ll add more when I think of them or observe them. I’ve got a few other things I want to post about…

Julie’s new age

I turned 33 last Thursday. I really like the 30s decade, so turning 33 was fairly uneventful. The most notable aspect of this birthday was being reminded that I was turning the same age Jesus was when he was crucified–twice.  One mention of this fact also added that I might want to wrap up what ministry I had going too.

This cracked me up. 32 was such a great year with Cadence’s birth. I’m looking forward to seeing what makes 33 special.

Cadence, future reader

I love to hear about Cadence’s day while I’m at work. One day last week, I was told that she was busy working on playing with her toys when she heard her care provider Geri begin reading to her friend, Allison. Geri said Cadence whipped around, stopped playing with her toys and crawled over to listen to the story. This makes me so happy. I want Cadence to be a reader because reading has always been such a happy pasttime for me and has broadened my life; I want the same experience for her.

Cadence holds her board books open and “reads” them by patting at them. I refer to her patting as reading braille. Her books engage her and entertain her when she’s belted into her car seat. When I read to her she actually looks at the pictures on each page. I can’t wait to read the Boxcar Children and Ramona series to her. They were two of my favorites growing up.

Back by popular demand

For the handful of dear readers who having been checking out my blog activity and have been disappointed since September…Thank you for your patience and your continued interest in what I have to say.

This will be a rambling post to catch you up, and then I hope to be able to touch base on a more regular basis.

Where do I start? I’m 8 months into motherhood, and I’ve been quite overwhelmed by the balancing act that life is when one becomes a mom, returns to work and then is expected to keep everything working smoothly in both arenas. I’ve chosen to take a laid back approach to motherhood, and am finding that works well for me. There are moments, however, when I wonder “If I’m overwhelmed now, what would it be like if I really got worked up about things?”

I took an online writing class for Writer Mamas in October and November with the idea that learning how to launch a freelance career would help me transition from working away from home to working at home. I learned a ton from the class, but one of the greatest lessons was that one person can only do so many things at once. Freelance writing really is hard work, and while I’m encouraged by my teacher’s comments as to my skill and publishability, this simply is not the time to do it. Clearly, since I can’t seem to blog more than once a quarter.

I’m actively pursuing celebrating a Christmas season that is unfettered by all of the commercial trappings that overwhelms and stresses out so many. In some ways, I’ve succeeded. I’ve placed my WillowTree Nativity on my entertainment center, and just tonight talked to Cadence about Baby Jesus and how he was born to help people and love them. I was practicing keeping the story simple and meaningful for future conversations. I think I wrapped it up in a nutshell. For those of us who have a relationship with Jesus, I’d say his helping and loving me is a considerable comfort.

I’m listening to Sarah McLachlan’s Wintersong album over and over. For me, it is one of the most soulful, worshipful Christmas albums. I am ministered by beautiful instruments, harmony, and amazing voices like hers.

I’ve modified my Christmas card this year and believe I’ve found a new format that I will stick with. Photo with greetings that fit on a 3×4 label affixed on the back. The photo includes the entire Mahoney Trio, not just the babygirl. I have strong opinions that when sending Christmas photos the entire family should be included. I love seeing my friends kids, but if I’ve never met them and haven’t seen my friends for a long time, I’d prefer to see my friends first and then their children second. Seeing my daughter in the context of her two parents makes recognizing that she completely takes after her dad (at this stage) far more fun (to me) than just seeing her. I think I’m on to something because I’ve received several e-mails, notes etc mentioning how much Mahoney Christmas card recipients enjoyed the picture.

My final traditional ritual, reading Christmas on Jane Street is on my list next. I bought the book one Christmas when I was alone in Kansas City, and decided I was going to read it every season. I have missed one year in ten (or nine?)–the December we lost my husband’s mother. That holiday season was so shocking and painful I didn’t have the energy for it.

Christmas morning is going to be something especially wonderful with Cadence’s and Luke’s sweet baby presence. I am reminded by some friends who are enduring indescribable loss of a child and frightening, sudden illness that Christmas means different things for different people at different times in life. My best friend’s arms are emptiest this year as she mourns her Anna’s short life; my arms are full of chubby, smiley wonderful Cadence. My heart and mind have struggled for months on such drastically different experiences occurring at the same time. How is it that I can be experiencing the greatest joy of my life while my friend experiences the greatest heartache? My 115-pound frame carries that weight like a boulder, and try as I might I can’t seem to dislodge it, unload it, or provide her with a sense of my deep longing for her health, healing, and wholeness.

When Cadence was born, I developed a heart condition: a mother’s broken, empathetic heartache for the suffering and pain of children and individuals in general. I’m praying for patience and understanding for myself and healing and peace for those who find themselves aching for something more.

May your holiday season be rich with family connection, quiet reflection, and the presence of Spirit, Love, and Joy–no matter what circumstances you find yourself in this Christmas season 2007.

Prayerfully yours until my next post.

Less is more

When I was little, there was nothing better than an occasion for me to open gifts–Christmas, my birthday–I even got presents on my sister’s birthday. I had quite a reputation for bugging my Mom and Dad incessantly about opening the presents. My grandparents loved watching all of my antics because they remembered my Mom doing the same thing when she was young. Then my brother-in-law joined the family and it became a competition as to who of the two of us was more ansy about present-opening time.

In recent years, my feelings have shifted. I still enjoy opening presents, but I truly enjoy watching loved ones open the gifts I give them even more.  The gift I most want to receive is a donation given to an important cause. I’m sure my brother-in-law is thinking, yeah, right, but I’m serious. I’m consistently in search of organizations I want to support. I have created a place on this blog for you to explore the charities that are important to me and that I think are worthy of donations. As I find more causes, I will add them to the list.

I work on consuming only that which I need, and a few things I want. My want list seems to grow smaller and smaller. I feel happy when I consume less. Perhaps it’s not the mindset for everyone, but it’s really working for me. 

I hope this post makes your Christmas and birthday shopping for me (if you would decide to) a little easier. 

Banner Day

I’m on borrowed time–my little family is napping, has been for awhile, so I’ll make it quick.

Today has been an exemplary day for these reasons:

1. Baby Cadence, 5 months two weeks, slept 7 hours last night. She was rewarded by a giddy mama picking her up out of her crib this morning.
2. Aforementioned Cadence ate all of her cereal for the first time. This is also significant. She is slowly warming to the idea of eating something besides her mama’s milk.
3. I have had nearly two hours of me time. Cadence and Bret are both napping (as I’ve already stated), so I’ve been watching a bit of TV (Reba, Scrubs), done some blog reading, paperwork organizing, shower favor making for a friend’s upcoming baby shower, and generally enjoying the quiet and solitude.

With this welcome break, I’ll be very enthusiastic to see my baby.